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Saturday May 16, 2020
AUTHOR:
Sage Czelder
FACULTY: Jen Wallin-Ruschman
DEPARTMENT: Psychology
The LGBTQIA+ population is a uniquely diverse yet often invisible group. The College of Idaho prides itself on its diversity and inclusion efforts, but the LGBTQIA+ community has been relatively under-researched on campus. This qualitative study set out to understand the experiences and perceptions of the LGBTQIA+ community through interviews and surveys. Previous research at similar liberal arts colleges has found that administrators' perception of the level of inclusion does not always match the experiences of the students themselves. I conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with eight LGBTQIA+ students at the College of Idaho and thematically analyzed the transcripts. Results from the interviews were used to build a survey that was available to all College of Idaho students. Survey answers were analyzed and all data was compiled into a report to provide a clearer picture of the current campus culture surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community. Both sets of data suggested a range of experiences but converged around a need for greater communication and inclusion efforts. Results will be used to give a voice to the College of Idaho LGBTQIA+ community, illustrate their range of experiences, and enhance efforts to benefit future Yote generations.
The College of Idaho 2112 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell, ID 8360 USA 208-459-5011 800-2C-IDAHO